shred

The definition of a shred is a small amount of something, or is a bit of broken-off or torn off paper or other material.

If you are horribly embarrassed about something that happens and you feel as if you only have a tiny little bit of dignity left, this is an example of when you have only a shred of dignity.

To shred is to tear or cut something up into small pieces.

When you are nervous and you rip a paper napkin up into little pieces, this is an example of when you shred your napkin.

shred

a long, narrow strip or piece made by cutting or tearing

a very small piece or amount; fragment; particle: not a shred of evidence

Origin of shred

Middle English schrede from Old English screade, akin to German and Middle Dutch schrot from Indo-European an unverified form (s)kreu(t)- (from source Classical Latin scrotum, scrotum) from base an unverified form (s)ker-, to cut from source shear, harvest

transitive verb

shred′ded or , shred′ding

to cut or tear into shreds

shred

noun

A long irregular strip that is cut or torn off.

A small amount; a particle: not a shred of evidence.

verb

shred·ded, or shredshred·ding, shreds

verb

transitive

a. To cut or tear into shreds.

b. To use a mechanical shredder to shred (paper documents, for example).

verb

intransitiveSlang

To make a series of quick turns on a wave or snow, for example, when riding a board such as a surfboard or snowboard.

To play fast solos accompanied by special techniques on the electric guitar.

(music) To play very fast (especially guitar solos in rock and metal genres).

Origin

Old English screade (from which also screed), cognate with GermanSchrot (“small shot") and Old Norse skrydda (“shrivelled skin"), from Proto-Indo-European*(s)kreu (“cutting tool"), extended form of *(s)ker- (“to cut").